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Coolant

V

vict0r

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jul 11, 2005
Messages
1,027
Can't I just use my car's coolant?
instead of all the other things out ?
 
Sure, if it's a 50/50 mix dilute it with 1:5 with water (IE: 1 part coolant, 5 parts distilled water).

If it's pure 100% coolant, dilute it 1:10 with water.
 
because pure coolant is almost completely composed of surfactants, glycols and other additives which

A) Are bad for plastics.
and
B) Don't conduct heat very well.

Coolants actually HURT the performance of a loop, but their other benefits (kills bacteria, lubricates, amongst other things) are worth the tiny performance drop.
 
Pure car coolant ain't coolant. The water does the cooling and the other stuff is to fix problems associated with running straight water. Now if you want the best of both worlds you can lay your hands on something that we use on this side of the pond and sold by Innovatek, Aqua Computer, and a few others.

The one I use use is AC Fluid but they are all the same. Essentially you get the anti-corrosion benefits at a 2% admixture and 98% water to do the cooling. More environmentally friendly as well and cools better than glycol mixtures.
 
waterlogged said:
Pure car coolant ain't coolant. The water does the cooling and the other stuff is to fix problems associated with running straight water. Now if you want the best of both worlds you can lay your hands on something that we use on this side of the pond and sold by Innovatek, Aqua Computer, and a few others.

The one I use use is AC Fluid but they are all the same. Essentially you get the anti-corrosion benefits at a 2% admixture and 98% water to do the cooling. More environmentally friendly as well and cools better than glycol mixtures.
Click to expand...

Has AC ever released an MSDS or a contents statement as what's inside AC fluid? There are only a few things that actively inhibit corrosion. Does it happen to smell at all like cinnamon?
 
I have seen this question brought up many times... and I guess my question is....why??

Automotive coolant is designed not to freeze, or gel, or foam....and, well... I doubt anyone would ever subject a water cooled machine to extremes in heat, cold or pressure that would cause the coolant in the loop to have those problems... so why?

If you have nothing else around, use distilled water, keep it clean and you should be fine... right?
 
Water is easily the best fluid for conducting heat away, its thermal capacity is massive.
I use distilled water and a tiny amount of dish soap to act as a surfactant and kill off growths.
 
digital_exhaust said:
I have seen this question brought up many times... and I guess my question is....why??

Automotive coolant is designed not to freeze, or gel, or foam....and, well... I doubt anyone would ever subject a water cooled machine to extremes in heat, cold or pressure that would cause the coolant in the loop to have those problems... so why?

If you have nothing else around, use distilled water, keep it clean and you should be fine... right?
Click to expand...

Pretty much. The only reasons to use it are for:

Corrosion Protection (moot if you have all copper)
Lubrication... But you only need about 1% for that.
Prevents growth of baddies... Which is nice all-around.
 
Arcygenical said:
Has AC ever released an MSDS or a contents statement as what's inside AC fluid? There are only a few things that actively inhibit corrosion. Does it happen to smell at all like cinnamon?
Click to expand...

Doesn't smell like cinnamon. The following link is what many people on this side of the pond claim what is in AC Fluid. However, I don't think AC has ever released a MSDS sheet. They claim there is no such thing (MSDS) in Germany. It does have a very slight brownish tint to it in it's concentrated form. In its diluted form it appears colorless.

http://www.chemicalland21.com/arokorhi/specialtychem/perchem/HYDROXYPHOSPHONO ACETIC ACID.htm
 
waterlogged said:
Doesn't smell like cinnamon. The following link is what many people on this side of the pond claim what is in AC Fluid. However, I don't think AC has ever released a MSDS sheet. They claim there is no such thing (MSDS) in Germany. It does have a very slight brownish tint to it in it's concentrated form. In its diluted form it appears colorless.

http://www.chemicalland21.com/arokorhi/specialtychem/perchem/HYDROXYPHOSPHONO ACETIC ACID.htm
Click to expand...

Hmmm... That stuff is even WORSE for you than Ethylene and Diethylene glycol! Although, yes, it's damn effective at preventing corrosion. Ah well, it's not like one could get past the taste and accidentally ingest it :p. Now, pure propylene glycol on the other hand...

Since the AC crowd is so bent on using Aluminum, why don't they teach proper corrosion prevention techniques, rather than using additives... Nylon screws and rubber washers are more than enough for 99% of the setups out there.
 
Arcygenical said:
Hmmm... That stuff is even WORSE for you than Ethylene and Diethylene glycol! Although, yes, it's damn effective at preventing corrosion. Ah well, it's not like one could get past the taste and accidentally ingest it :p. Now, pure propylene glycol on the other hand...

Since the AC crowd is so bent on using Aluminum, why don't they teach proper corrosion prevention techniques, rather than using additives... Nylon screws and rubber washers are more than enough for 99% of the setups out there.
Click to expand...

You know what that stuff is? Because rubber washers and nylon screws look like shit? :p
 
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